Organizational structures traditionally center around a group of people following a leader. It is the leader’s job to create the vision for success, map out the implementation plan, assign tasks, and monitor the work. And it’s been fairly successful for a long time. But as we try to do more with less, we need to engage all the capabilities of our team members. A single person can't drive the bus all over town. But as Jon Gordon tells us in the Positive Business Manifesto, leaders can do more than drive the bus - they can develop a whole fleet of bus drivers.
Leadership is not just about what you do, but also what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do. To build a positive business, it’s not enough to just be a bus driver yourself. You must also develop a fleet of bus drivers in your organization. This involves a process where a united leadership team shares the company’s vision with their managers and employees, invites them on the bus and then encourages and empowers them to drive their own bus.
The leadership team explains that it’s their job to create a positive environment where managers and employees can perform at their highest level and it’s each employee’s job to stay positive and utilize their gifts and strengths to contribute to the goals and vision of the organization. Individual conversations should also take place between leaders and managers, and managers and their employees. Each person needs to understand the organization’s vision and identify how their personal vision, job and effort contribute to the overall vision. When this happens, instead of one bus with one driver, you now have a fleet of bus drivers all moving in the same direction. This generates a tremendous amount of power and momentum in the organization.
MM: As you develop your goals for 2009 and work with team members to develop theirs, consider helping them create a personal mission along with their tasks. "Your mission is to improve Process X. You decide what the parameters are, you decide how it gets done, you decide who should be involved. I will be a resource if you have questions, but this is your baby. Go make it happen."
You might have some concerns: "But I won’t be able to control what they do. What if they go in the wrong direction?"
Two things:
1. Control is an illusion. We never really have control over other people. And when we try to exert control, they just withdraw their commitment. It's like trying to hold sand. The tighter you hold on, the more sand leaks out your fingers.
2. When we are passionate about something and take ownership, we are more likely to succeed. Our hearts and minds are engaged when we take personal responsibility for the outcome of the project. And even if the mission is not successful, it provides a growth experience. And that is always worth doing.
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